Bulb adapter



June 28, 1932.

s. F. ARBUCKLE BULB ADAPTER Original Filed Oct. 9, 1923 2 Sheets-$heet 1 ATTORNEY June*28-, 1932. s. F. ARBUCKLE BULB ADAPTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 9, 1923 6 E 7 m 7 m w 7 2 2 w 6 w i Z m H 5 mm N c R E u A0 we In M 4m M m M 5 Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL F. ARBUCKLE, F HIGHLAND PARK, Iv'iICI-IIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MONOGRAM LENS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE BULB ADAPTER Original application filed October 9, 1923, Serial No. 667,501. Divided and this application filed May 27, 1827. Serial No. 194,565.

This invention relates to headlights and particularly to adapters for increasing the distance of the light bulb from the light bulb socket. It is often desirable, when the re flector in a headlight becomes no longer efficient through wear or for any other reason, to place a new reflector in the headlight, and this may be done without removing the old reflector, by using a replacement reflector of somewhat smaller diameter. In assembling this new unit, it is necessary to increase the distanceof the light bulb from its original position so that it will have the proper relation to the new reflector. This application is a division of my application, Serial No.

667,501, filed October 9, 1928, which shows and describes such reflector arrangement and which was granted March 26, 1929 as Patent Number 1,706,836. I

It is one of the objects of the invention therefore, to provide an adapter which may be inserted in the socket of an automobile headlight and which will receive the light bulb and maintain the same at a predetermined distance from its original position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adapter for a light bulb, the socket end of which may be rotatedfor adiustment with respect to the plug end.

Another obiect of the invention is to provide an adapter or light bulb in which the electrical connector through the adapter may be a djusted so that the desired tension may be had on the contact of the bulb.

Other objects and 'obiects relating to details of construction and methods of manufacture will be obvious on consideration of the embodiment of the invention herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a headlight embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the adapter shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional end view of the adapter taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4. is a sectional side elevation of a modified form of adapter;

Fig. 5 is an end View of the adapter shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation through a headlight embodying another modification of w the adapter;

F 7 is a side elevation of the adapter Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation showing the means of supporting the light bulb in the adapter.

Referring to the drawings, there is indicated the usual headlight casing 10 contain ing the usual parabolic reflector 11. The rim of the reflector is outturned forming the hearing plate 12. This plate carries at its periphery a right-angled double flange 13 designed to contact With the cylindrical casing ring ll integral with the casing, whereby the reflector is maintained from lateral displacement. There is formed also in the front face of plate 12a circumferential groove 15 adapted to receive a cushioning material 16 interposed between the plate and the lamp lens 17. The lens 17 and reflector 11 are maintained in assembled position within the headlight casing 10 by means of a cap ring 18, this cap including a ring portion 19 adapted to en case the casing edge ring 14, the plate portion so extending inwardly over the edge of the lens 17 and a back-turned flange 21, the edge 22 of which is adapted to Contact with the lens 17 and maintain it in place.

The connector 25, forming the connecting means between the lamp and the external electrical circuitis positioned in the tube 26 and fixed by any suitable means to the edge 27 of an aperture 28, formed in the casing base. The reflector 11 is similarly apertured as at 29 and extended in a ring 30, forming a continuati on of the tube 26.

Each end of the connector is oppositely cut by bayonet slots 36 and 37, the outer slots 36 receiving pins 38 formed on the external circuit plug 39 and the slots 37 receiving ordinarily the pins 40 of the lamp base but in the invention described the pins ll (Fig. 2) are formed on the cooperating end of the adapter 42. I I

The'adapter 42 is designed to form a connecting unitmechanically and electrically between the connector 25 and the lamp base 43. As illustrated (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) one embodiment of the adapter is comprised in a socket member 44 secured by internal threads 45 to a plug member 46, there being a set screw 47 intermediate these parts to fiX them in a given relationship. The plug 46 carries, as previously indicated, the attaching pins 41 adapted to contact with the bayonet slots 37 of the connector 25. The end of the plug is closed by the inturned flange 48 and by the electrically insulating material 49 in which is imbedded the contact plate 50 and conductor 51. Inside the end is an insulation washer which may be a part of the insulating material 49 and adjacent the inner surface of the washer a metal plate 53 supported on and having direct electrical connection with the contact plate 50 by means of the conductor 51. The edges of the plate 53 are inturned to form an annular retaining flange for one end of the coil spring 54, the other end of which engages the contact pin 55 as hereinafter described.

Abutting the inner end of the plug member 46 and contacting with the inner surface of the socket member 44 is an insulator washer 56, retained in position by a ridge 57 formed interiorly of the socket member adj acent the washer. The washer 56 carries at its center a bearing plug 58 apertured to receive in slidable relationship the pin 55 hereinabove indicated. The end of the pin projecting into the plug interior is enlarged to form a centering element 59 for the inner end of the coil spring 54, and also carries a shoulder 60 fixed to the pin against which the spring 54 normally bears with yielding force, thus maintaining the pin 55 at the inner limit of its movement within the plug 58. The inner end of the pin 55 is adapted to contact yieldingly, by virtue of the spring 54, against the contact plate 61 of the lamp socket, will be apparent to those skilled in this art, said contact being made by the bayonet slot 2, engaging the lamp pins 40.

Note should be made of the bayonet slots 62 as having straight holding surfaces 63, extending approximately 45 about the shell.

In certain forms of reflectors, it is essential for proper illumination, that the plane of the lamp filament be in a definite relation to the reflector and these bayonet slots provide a limited rotational adjustment so that the bulb may be turned to its proper position until the filaments are in proper position. Where the lamp and reflector of this type are marketed as a unit, it is desirable that these members be clamped in proper relationship as above indicated.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate amodified adapter designed for use in a two-wire circuit, there being indicated a onepiece shell 80 having a shoulder 81 intermediate the socket 82 and plug 83, pins 84 and two-contact base 85. The base 85 includes a metal cap 86, having an outturned sector 87 forming a contact grounded on the shell, and a contact 88 insulated from the cap 86 by insulation 89 and washer 90 and connected to the spring end plate 91 by means of wire 92. The contact 88 is in the form of a sector similarly with contact 87 so that electrical contact with the headlight socket pins may be maintained throughout a limit rotation of the adapter determined by the length of the bayonet slots 37.

In the two-wire circuit adapter, it is, of course, apparent that the adapter shell serves as one circuit of the electric fiow to the lamp intermediate the casing socket 25 and the lamp base 43, the other circuit being insulated.

Figure 6 illustrates a modified construction in which the adapter unit has been simplified and the whole assembly compacted to a minimum degree. The adapter unit 110 is formed of a plug member 111 and a socket member 112, which may be interconnected in any suitable manner or formed integral with each other. One satisfactory connection is illustrated which permits rotatable adjustment of the parts and is formed by channelling opposite sides 118 and 114 of the connecting end 115 of the plug member along arcs of about forty-five degrees (Figs. 7 and 8). These channels receive the ends of set screws 116 and 117 movable within the engaging end of the socket member 112 and by setting the screws at different points along the grooves 113 and 114, different relative adjustment of the socket and plug members is obtained.

In this form of adapter, the plug member 111 does not utilize a spring as in the first described form. Within the plug shell 112 is included a moulded cylinder 118 retained at one end by the grooves 113 and 114 and at the other end by prongs 119 out out from the edge of the shell. The cylinder 118 is non-conducting to electricity and is hollowed axially to receive a conductor rod 120, forming the electrical circuit between the lamp base and the lamp casing socket contact 121 and enlarged contact disks 122 and 123 are formed on either ends of this rod to facilitate and improve contact. For purposes of assembly and to permit ready adjustment the rod 1200 is preferably formed in separate parts 124 and 125, connected by a screw joint, as illustrated in Fig. 6, with a plurality of washers 126 set in between the engaging ends.

The plug pins 127 are formed preferably by striking out the shell surface or by other suitable means.

As previously indicated, the plug member 111 is attached to the socket member 112 by a screw and groove device. Inasmuch as the shell 130 of the socket is relatively thin a reinforcing ring 131 is provided for the set screws 116 and 117, which is secured to the shell 130 by forming four holes 132 around the periphery of the shell at points separated by approximately ninety degrees through two of which the screws 116 and 117 pass. The metal of the shell 130 is forced out into the remaining two holes and thus a secure interengagement of ring and shell is provided.

The end 134 of the socket 112 is corrugated annularly to form an outwardly opening groove 135 adapted to receive the edge of an aperture cut in the base of the replacement reflector 136.

Means for retaining the lamp in the desired position in the shell 130 is provided for in a screw 137 adapted to hold sleeve 140 supporting the base lamp position. A ring 138 gives reinforcement to the shell, said ring extending around the shell adjacent the groove 135, and having a plurality of holes 139 formed therein adapted to receive the outforced metal of the shell 130 to prevent movement relative thereto.

Means for permitting universal adjustment of the lamp socket is obtained by placing a sleeve 140 on the lamp base, there being two oppositely positioned axial slots 141 out therein terminating in holes 142, whereby the sleeve is readily slipped over the lamp base pins 143 until the same enter the holes 142. This construction forms a smooth plug member which may be readily adjusted either axially or rotatably, by rela tive movement of the sleeve 140 with respect to shell 130, greatly facilitating the adjustment of the lamp in the replacement reflector 136.

Various modifications, other than those described, may be evident to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains and therefore it is not desired to limit the invention further than as defined in the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A bayonet lamp adapter comprising combined interengaging plug and socket members, said socket being relatively longitudinally adjustable with respect to said plug, yielding means for electrically connecting said plug and socket and means including a screw for locking said members in adjusted position.

2. A bayonet adapter for lamps comprising combined plug and socket members, said socket and plug having threaded connections and longitudinally adjustable about a single axis, yielding means for electrically connecting said plug and socket, a slidable contact member engageable with said yielding means and insulatingly supported upon said socket, and means carried by said socket and engageable with said plug for locking said plug and socket members in adjusted relation.

3. A bayonet lamp adapter comprising a socket shell and a plug shell, said plug and socket shells having threaded connections and being relatively adjustable about a single axis only, an axially apertured insulation unit positioned within said socket shell, means for limiting the forwarded extended movement of said insulation unit, a contact member slidably carried in said unit, a fixed contact insulatingly carried by said plug, yielding means for electrically connecting the fixed and slidable contact members and means for locking said socket shell to said plug shell in adj ust-ed relation.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

SAMUEL F. ARBUCKLE.

CERTIFICATE OF CQRREGTION.

Patent No. 1,865,073. June 28, 1932.

SAMUEL F. ARBUGKLE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 120, for the numeral "1200" read 120; page 3, line 19, for "base lamp" read lamp base in; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of November, A. D. 1932,

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents, 

